The Church in Goa celebrates Lay Vocation Sunday today. His Excellency Archbishop Filipe NeriFerrao will celebrate Mass, together with the Laity Director Fr. Jorge Fernandes and his assistant Fr. Onasis D’cruz at Bishop’s House. The Mass, which is in Konkani will be telecast at 7am, and the Mass in English at 9.30 am on Sunday 27th September 2020. The theme chosen for this day is “Through Lay Vocation, laity are called to give witness in the world”. Lay people being in their respective profession, when they do gods will, by living Gods values in establishing Peace, Justice, Care and Compassion and being transparent in their duties and responsibilites, is what we call living their Lay Vocation Call.
The Church and the Laity
In the document ‘Lumen Gentium, a principal document from the Second Vatican Council, the Church says, “The laity, by their very vocation, seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God.” Lay persons are unique because they hold a special place in the function of human society. They can affect laws, cultural attitudes, and social systems in the many places they live and work. The laity have an influence that the Bishops and Priest do not have. Their very engagement in secular activities can transform their ordinary work into apostolic work — work that touches lives and changes hearts. They are, in their own way, made sharers in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ. They carry out their own part in the mission of the whole Christian people with respect to the Church and the world” (ChristifidelisLaici15)
In his message, the Pope Francis spoke of the importance of the lay vocation in the Church. “Lay people are called to permeate the family, work and social environments with Christian values through their witness and words and by meeting people in the concrete situations of their lives, so that they may live in “full dignity” and be “reached by the salvation of Christ,” The Pope encourages the members of the lay association to be the LEAVEN, and “put the spirit of the Gospel in the wounds of history with the witness of faith, hope and love.” He added saying, “Many times, even in the Church, we believe we are good Christians because we do well-organized social and charitable work.” The Pope said. “They are good things, but we must not forget that the lifeblood that transforms hearts is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. Allow the Lord to occupy the centre of your heart and of your work.”
How Can laity live their Vocation?
To become a great disciple, one need not give up all possessions and enter the desert. We are called to serve and evangelize right where we are, with those we know. The Sacrament of Baptism gives us these rights to witness Jesus in our Life. No one can stop the laity from playing their role in the family, Church and society.
Laity’s Role in the family: The commitment of the spouses to their marriage, practising exemplary and value-based parenting, making principle-based career decisions, motivating one another, acknowledging and appreciating charitable acts, economic and political balancing are some important responsibilities of the laity in the family.
Laity’s role in the Church: The laity plays and important role in evangelizing the Word of God through reading, reflecting and preaching as well as taking care of the temporal goods of the Church. The laity are co-workers in the mission of Christ and so they are to exercise their priestly role through various associations, movements, and groups, like PPC, Youth, Catechist, Altar Servers, SCCs, CFC, SSVP, St. Luke’s and Nurses Guild, Legion of Mary, CCR, Choir, etc, and also by getting involved in the administration of the Church.
Laity’s Role in the Society: Laity have an active ministry life in the community and society, addressing the needs of the people in issues related to literacy, homelessness, social evils, crisis pregnancies, prison outreach, homebound visitation. They have a major role to play in society by their active participation in the fight for social justice and peace, promoting artisans, culture and traditions, involving themselves in the areas of health care and providing services through their professions and jobs, protecting the environment, and so on.
God’s Plan for laity Life
God has already equipped our laity with what they need to serve Him and His children in this world. If you see yourself as an unlikely apostle, fear not – St. Paul himself was the most unlikely of missionaries, and yet God used him, and many others. All of the activities we engage in with our talents point us back to true friendship with Christ. Our ultimate end should be to open ourselves to God’s plan for our lives, the greatest gift He gives us, as we discover our place in the Mystical Body of Christ and His Church. Then we will be blessed to move into the secular world to witness this mystical unity among various communities. Let us gift our life for building the vineyard of God and bring salvation to the whole world.
“To the other towns also I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” Luke 4:43
